Opera Tavern, Covent Garden

The Vibe

Amidst the glitz and gaggling groups of theatreland, Opera Tavern is a sophisticated haven that has cleverly negotiated the usual pitfalls of tapas bars in London. Enter the discreet doorway minutes from Covent Garden’s bustling hub and you will find a culinary delight of tempting smells from the charcoal grill, mixed with the buzz of contented diners either seated prettily at the spacious bar or dotted about on dark wooden tables. The restaurant continues with an upstairs area (think gold leaf ceiling and large sash windows), ideal for a quieter date. The service is outstanding with staff who are clearly passionate about what they’re doing and have tasted the dishes that they confidently recommend.

The Order

Opt for some Pigs Ears whilst you mull over the menus, then get properly started with the Charcuterie, or Chorizo from the Charcoal Grill. All the tapas are Italian- and Spanish-inspired so there’s a plentiful spread of meats (try the Roasted Iberico Loin) , fish (ditto the Scallops) and vegetable options (without fail the Mozarella and Tomato salad with Grilled Peaches). The dishes roll out at a well-timed rate and this is the ideal type of date food –easy to eat, easy to share and easy to find yourself exclaiming in delight as each new one emerges. Wines are matched to the dishes so by the glass options work well here.

The Game

Eat late and place yourself after the pre -theatre rush. If you want a quieter, more intimate dinner, book a table upstairs. If you want to be in the midst of the action, the bar on the ground floor offers a brilliant vantage point to watch the chefs busily chargrilling the meat and carving the hams. This is definitely somewhere you can stay all night, the hours fly by in a heady blur of contentment and you’ll be fully expecting to emerge out into a balmy Mediterranean street. Make do with a walk across one of the nearby bridges to Waterloo and marvel at London by night whilst locking lips for the complete movie moment.

The Faults

Although the vegetarian options are admirable (and delicious), there’s too much meat to be enjoyed here to take anyone other than a committed carnivore.